Toe protector



NQV. 28, 1950 KIWAD 2,531,851

TOE PROTECTOR Filed 001.. 26, 1949 FIG. I.

INVEN TOR. ISADORE KIWAD BY WW AT TORN EY Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE 2 Claims.

.This invention relates to devices adapted to be worn upon the feet to protect the members thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved toe protector which includes a main body member and a plurality of toe spacing and protecting members, the toe spacing and protecting members being capable of being arranged in any desired spacing to conform to the needs of the wearer and the dimensions of his feet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toe protector in which there are a number of toe spacing and protecting members, so that one 01' more thereof may be disposed between adjacent toes, permitting the toes to breathe and making for the utmost in comfort and convenience in the wearing of the toe protector. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toe protector which is so designed and constructed as to maintain the proper spacing between the toes, helping to keep them straight, as nature intended, and at the same time allows the toes to move freely, so as not to interfere with blood circulation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toe protector which will minimize friction between adjacent toes and which is capable of being impregnated with a medicament for the treatment of any local condition of the feet or toes.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toe protector which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is very effective for its intended purpose. 1

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my toe protector, with four individual toe spacers in position.

Fig. 2 is a right end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail face elevation of one of the toe spacers shown in Figs. 1 and 2, apart from the main support.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing additional individual toe spacers mounted on the main support to give added inter-toe spacing.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a foot with my improved toe protector as shown in Fig. 4, in position thereon.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing the possible angular displacement of the toe spacers, to conform with the foot, or to take care of unusual conditions present.

Where foot ailments are to be treated, it is important that the toes be spaced from each other, to allow free circulation of air therebetween. In addition, it prevents infection due to rubbing and the presence of foreign matter between the toes, prevents corns between the toes, and may prevent deformation of the toes by misalignment thereof. The present invention discloses means for accomplishing these desirable results, and is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application filed December 14, 1948, under Serial No. 65,250, and entitled Toe Protector.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention and the best means for carryingit out, reference may now be had to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As illustrated, I provide a main longitudinal support member generally indicated at ID. This main support member [0 may be made of relatively soft 'or resilient material such as cotton, wool, nylon, rayon, silk, preferably felted, and may be non-circular in cross section such as for example the rectangular cross-section as seen best in Fig. 2. The main support member ID should have sufficient length as seen best in Fig. 5, to extend right across below the toes I2, I4, l6, I8 and 20. It will be observed that the cross section or thickness of the main support member l0, should only be sufficient to enable it to fit easily into the recesses between the ball 22 of the foot and the depending portions or pads of the toes.

As shown in Fig. 5, the ends 24 and 26 of the main support member lllmay extend very slightly beyond the adjacent portions of the foot, but if so, it should be very little therebeyond. From Fig. 5, it is also seen that the material of which the main support member ID is made should be flexible enough to assume the curve of this lateral channel beneath the toes as shown.

A number of independent toe spacers or separators such as those shown at 28, 3U, 32 and 34, are mounted on the main support member 10. Each of these toe spacers is formed of flexible sheet material, preferably fabric or felted cotton, wool, nylon, rayon or silk, generally and preferably having the face contour shown in Fig. 3. As seen there, the toe spacers have sides 40 and 42 which may be straight for a portion of their extent, and intersect convergently with the curve 44 at the bottom. At the top the sides 40 and 42 diverge, and intersect with the curves 46 and 48 which meet in a notch 50.

An aperture 52 is formed through the entire thickness of they toesp'acers such as 34, near the lower cur e 4'4. This aperture 52, which may be circular, is slightly smaller in diameter than the included circle of the four corners of the rectangular cross section of the main support 111cm;- ber I0, so that upon insertion of the main support member ID through the apertures 52 each of the toe spacers 28, 30, 32 and 34 in theman ner of Figs. 1 and 2, it is seen that the corners of the main support member bear into the edges:

of the apertures 52, and may be slightly com pressed thereby. as at GI], 62, vfi l and 66.

The toe spacers such as 34 are moved; along the: support member. [0511111311 they assume their relative positions; conforming to the spacins; betweenthe; toes: of. the foot as seen in Fig. 5,

to= be received therebetween as shown. The

special arrangement with the square cross sectional main support member l0 and: the circular 1ape rtures; formed; in the. members 28 and 34 mo nted thereon;permitssufficient,frictional en- E e sement. therebetwecm as: to; keep the members 2t and; 34-. in ny desired positions. They may 81150 be turned about the; axis of the; main support rod NJ to; any angle, as seen inFig. 6, to take cal-1820f any-special. conditions;

As; shown. in Figs. t and 5,: where he sp ing v:-

between adjacent toes, may vary. it is possible to meant more than; one; toe spacer at any spacing hositioma For examnle, to, separate the big toe I2 and the next toe [4, there may be two spacers :1-

18 and; 2811 and similarly, there may be two s acers: 3.8 and.3.0aatthe next spacing. position. The spacers-28a and 30a will be in all respects warlike the; spacers 2:03v and 30.

The device isinterohangeable, and may be used on either foot, and fits all toes, so that it is not necessary to make up special sizes. It gives the toes a chance to move freely and the blood a chance to circulate, and helps keep the toes straight. Further, medicine may be impregnated in or applied on any of the toe spacers to treat any local condition.

Although I have described my invention in pe sifictefnfi, it will be chderstoott that variations may bemade in sizejshap, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

' I; claim:

1 A toe protection device comprising a longiwoman-main support member having a length sufficient to extend transversely below a plurality of toes, a plurality of relatively thin fiat toe' spacing members movably disposed upon the main support member and adapted to extend between adjacenttoes to maintain the same in spaced relatiionshin; said spacing members being further adapted to be moved adjacent to each other to provide a. composite spacing member of REEEaENoEs. onto. The following references are of retard in the fil e of" this patent:

UNITED STATE' L's." E 'ATEBITS 

